Being a Road User is About Trust?

With Philadelphia's long Quaker history, we in the area know a thing or two about trust, and how trust is very important for creating a community.

But what does trust have to do with commuting? I just found this really interesting article commenting on how much trust all road users (i.e.- everyone) have in each other to do their part to keep each other safe- whether we feel trusting or not:

If you think about it, almost all of our traffic control systems are either lights, or paint, or other similar “symbolic” control devices. You trust others and they trust you. On an average trip you are placing your very life in the hands of hundreds, if not thousands, of total strangers...

This is why I think people who drive cars get so upset when cyclists run red lights. It is not because cyclists are breaking the rules (everyone does that, and often), it is because they are breaking the shared trust. It is offensive to the group because that trust is what keeps them alive…

This idea works for just about any person driving/riding any kind of transportation. Car drivers run red lights also, they also make turns with no signals on, bikers go the wrong way down streets, pedestrians walk out against the signals…etc…etc. The point is each and every time anyone does this, not only are they breaking the rules, they are breaking down the shared trust.…

So how do we rebuild this trust? The same way you build any other kind of trust. Slowly, and deliberately. Stop at that red light, walk with the signal, use your turn signals. It is going to take time, and it is going to happen slowly, and you will not be able to get anyone else to do it with you...

Excerpted from the Boston Biker Blog. Or, Streetsblog has some good commentary.

This was a new idea to me: that being on the road is about trust, and when any road users breach that trust, it gets people upset.

It also underscores the logic behind the idea of "Give Respect, Get Respect". When people feel respected by other road users, they feel more able to trust them and give back that respect. In fact, the Philly Inquirer discusses this in relation to the new Spruce-Pine lanes in a great article published today.

A good way for cyclists to help add to this trust (in addition to following the rules of the road) is to communicate with motorists and pedestrians by being visible and predictable cyclists.

And if you haven't already, you can also sign our I Bike PHL Pledge!